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June 26, I8S2 .J THE LEADER. 603
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GE NEBAL PIERCE AND THE UNITED STATES MI...
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AN INTERNATIONAL BANQUET, AT BLACKWALL. ...
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LETTERS FROM PARIS. [Fbom our own Corres...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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June 26, I8s2 .J The Leader. 603
June 26 , I 8 S 2 . J THE LEADER . 603
Ge Nebal Pierce And The United States Mi...
GE NEBAL PIERCE AND THE UNITED STATES MILITIA . We have received the following interesting account of his military career from a correspondent . The writer has coupled with it some particulars respecting the militia of the States . ¦ After declining , the two appointments which had heen off ered him by President Polk—that of Secretary , at War and Attorney-General—Mr . Pierce enrolled himself as a private soldier among the volunteers destined'fpr the Mexican war ; As soon as the New England regiment was raised , he was elected its Colonel . A vacancy oocurring shortly after , he was appointed a Brigadier-General . BCis commission was dated March 3 , 1847 , and on the 28 th of June landed , with his force of 2500 men , at the city of Vera Cruz . Here a delay of three weeks was occasioned by the want of mules and waggons necessary for transportation ; a delay greatly aggravated by wide-spread sickness among the men unaccustomed to the climate . Yet under all these discouraging circumstances , he was able to join General Scott at Puebla in July , and to engage in the battles of Cpntreras and Cherubusco in August ; also the battles of Motino del Key and Chepultepec ,- —in all of which he greatly distinguished himself by his valour .
At the battle of Contreras , the Mexican forces were drawn up in battle array behind a deep ravine , with their powerful batteries well placed and well served . General Pierce had directions to charge and outflank them . In executing this order at the head of his brigade , his horse stumbled upon the ragged and uneven ground , fell , and rolled over him . He was severely injured , and his horse was completely disabled . He immediately mounted another , and mingled in the thickest of the fight . That night the troops lay upontheir arms in a drenching rain . The pain was so great from the injuries he had received , that he was prevented from sleeping , and the surgeon prohibited him from going into battle the next day , urging him to return to San Augustine , where there was a dep 6 t ;
but this he refused to do . He determined to lead his men to Cherubusco , which , hei did , although it was with the greatest difficulty he could keep his saddle . Here he was directed to attack the enemy in their rear , which he did . Owing to the uneven ground , his horse threw him with such violence that he fainted ; his troops , on coming up , demanded that he should be raised and carried from the field ; this he positively refused , ordered them to charge on , and he would take care of himself- —notwithstanding a large body " of Mexican lancers were then in full charge upon the very spot where he had fallen . ^ The brave are always generous . During the voyage to Vera Cruz , the water fell short . Upon . receiving his allowance , General Pierce never failed to divide it among the soldiers . On arriving at Vera Cruz , where so many necessaries" were . required for the sick , General Pierce loaned
every dollar he had to the men who needed it . Alttouglj he sutfered severely in his health , in common with others in that deadly climate , yet he was frequently seen , during the march to Puebla , carrying the musket of the wearied sick soldier upon his own shoulder . Notwithstanding the state of his health , he was always at his post during the whole of that brilliant campaign . On his return home , in parting with his soldiers at Newport , he divided the balance of his pay then duo to him with them , and procured , by his influence , free passages for them upon the railway . From the beg inning to the end of the campaign his attention and kindness to the volunteers under his command scarcely know any limit . They looked upon him as a friend and father . There was no danger or hardship he was not willing to share with them .
A great number of anecdotes aro told to illustrate his coolness and intrepidity . In his first battle , that of Contreras , while charging upon the Mexican forcos , their cannon-shot were ploughing up the ground in every direction . General Pierce , cutting at thorn with his sword , would say , " There , boys , is a game of ball for you ! " At the battle of Molino del Key , ho continued to rido over the field amidst a shower of bullets , until called by General Worth , who entreated him not to bo so rash . This is the man whom the Democratic party of tho United States have selected as their bannor-boaror at tho approaching Presidential contest ; not simply because of his high military services , but because ho possesses all tho noble qualities which can adorn tho character of tho citizen or tho statesman . Ho has given the hig hest evidonoo in the halls of legislation of his eminent fitness for tho oxaltod station ho has boon nominated to fill . In every rolation of life his charactor is without reproach .
Thoro aro somo circumstances connected with tho war botwoon tho United States and Moxico which aro too important to bo forgotten . That a small body of undisciplined volunteers , raw militia recruits , men taken from thoir fiolds and wdrkshops , who had never soon blood flow from a gun-shot wound , should , in tho courso of a few short weoka , bo able to drive throo , four , and , upon ono occasion , six times thoir number of well-appointed regular troops from bohind thoir almost imprognablo fortifications , is saying something in bohalf of a citizon-soldiory . Tho whole Amorioan standing army was leas than 10 , 000 men—all told . There wore 1 ) 000 men ongaged in somo of tho battles of them volun
boib ro , tho city of Moxico , a groat portion - teers wlio had just ; joined the army . To this small bqdy of men , comparatively , tho Mexicans opposed an army of « 0 , 000 , tho best troops over raised in that country , with 100 cannon . Add to fchis disparity of force , that tho Mexicans wore at homo , in a climate to which they woro accustomed , and occupying woll-constructod fortifications . Tho Americans were ohtiro strangers , not only wholly unacquainted with , tho country , but wholly unaccustomed to tho unhealthy climate In addition to this , it whs in tho nmldlo of summer whon theoo battles woro fought , and tho In . a overpowering . Tot those nine thousand volunteers and regulars day after day drivo before thorn the best army Mexico ever had—par sue thorn ovor ravineB , gorges ,
natural as well as artificial trenches , cut by the labour of a hundred thousand peOnsi rushing line upon line , hill upon hill , storming redoubts , overwhelming fortifications , capturing the capital of the country , and planting the stars and stripes upon the walls of the principal palace . In the thrilling and eloquent speech delivered by General Pierce to the citizens of Concord , who had assembled to welcome him back , he said : — " To many it had been matter of great surprise that the new levies had fought as they had done . But it is in the race . He would take from the audience before him a regiment who would do the same . In executing manoeuvres , and in forming combinations in front of an enemy , by old soldiers
wheeling , countermarching , & c * , are undoubtedly better ; but when it came to close fighting , as in storming or charging , it was the men that did the work and not the manoeuvring , and in such -work , the men , who bad never before been under fire or used the bayonet , stood well side by side with the long-trained soldier . ' Again he says , — "On the march , in the fight , everywhere one predominant feeling animated them . The question was not who should bo ordered forward ; but which corps should be allowed to go forward first . The only dispute was upon claims to be first led against the enemy . " He makes art allusion to the printers , which will be appreciated by the highly intelligent members of that honourable profession . He says : — btwent
"In the new levies , the printers exceed y y per cent , those of any other vocation ; and on account of their intelligence and high spirit they have proved the most efficient soldiers in the field . " He gives a few of their names . " There was Henry Caldwell , one of the bravest and most determined soldiers in the army . There was Serjeant Howell , who was shot through tho heart at Cherubusco . As his last breath flowed , he whispered to me'Do the boys say I behaved well ? If I have , write home to my people . ' Then there was Serjeant Pike , who had his leg shot off in advancing along on a causeway swept by three batteries . Two amputations , which did not answer the purpose , were performed , and a third was deemed hopeless . Die he must , it was thought . ' I know better than they do / he said . Til try another ; and when they cut it again I hope they will Cut it so that it will stay cut . A third amputation was performed , and he lived through it . He and the others named were printers . "
Captain Martin Scott was the first man shot in the army . He raised himself above the protection of a wall . A brother officer begged him not to expose himself unT necessarily . He replied , — " Martin Scott has never yet stooped , " The next moment a shot passed through his heart . He fell upon his back , deliberately placed his cap upon his breast , and died ^ Colonel Graham , after receiving six severe wounds , continued at the head of his men , and upon-receiving the seventh through the heart , slowly dropped from his horse , and as he fell upon the ground ; Baid , - ^ - " Forward , my men ! my word is always—forward ! And so saying he died . ,,,, ' ¦ , almost eled of
Ono great cause of the unparall success these newly raised troops , was the fact that the officers , from tho highest to the lowest , led , and cheered on their columns . Hence the great disproportion in the loss of officers and men . Every officer killed was shot at the head of his men , in the foremost point of danger . The enrolled militia of the United States amount to over 1 , 500 , 000 fighting men . _ Tho volunteer service is there rendered respectable because men of the highest rank and intelligence are proud to become members of a volunteer corps . Washington , Jackson , indeed , all the best and the bravest officers that America has ever had , were at first officers in tho ^ militia . If tho " higher classes , " as they aro called , in England , would adopt a similar course , condescend to encourage b y thoir le tho formation of volunteer corps in this
examp country , England might safely defy " a world in arms . ' I sec that tho Times is somewhat scandalized , or at least distressed , that all tho prominent candidates for tho Presidency could bo sot aside at tho Democratic Convention , and a man much leas genorally known selected , I look upon this as ono of tho crowning oxcollcncics of tho American system , which tho Times disparages . That modest ami unprotonding merit , high intellectual and moral worth , can be sought out oven in comparative obscurity , and elevated to an office second to nono in tho world , without tho adventitious aid of birth , wealth , family influence , is ono of tho moBt important and interesting facts connected with tho republican wystom . Upon no pngo of Roman history does tho eye rest with moro delight than tho ono upon which is recorded tho tranfilation of Cincinnatus from tho plough to tho hoad of tho ltoman
army . VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE . Colonel William Bnftra King , tho candidate nominated by tho Democratic Convention at Baltimore , in a native of tho State of North Carolina . Ho is ono of the first senators elected from tho now State of Alabama , and was in Congress for twenty-live years . In 1841 ho was appointed Minister to Frnncc , whoro ho remained until 1847 . On his return to Ainoricn , he was again oloctcd to the United States Honuto , of which body ho is now president . Ho is a gentleman of groat courtesy of manner , nnd is nniversnliy esteemed . Our rcadors must not confound' Colonel William Rufus King with tho old Tory Englishman of that numo , woll known in American history . Tho Vico-Presidential cundidato is no relation to him , but cornea of the Northumberland Porcvfl .
An International Banquet, At Blackwall. ...
AN INTERNATIONAL BANQUET , AT BLACKWALL . GE 0 BGH 3 Peabody , Esq ., the distinguished American banker , mot , on tho 17 th of this month , at tho Brunswick Hotel , Blackwall , somo hundred and fifty ladies
and gentlemen of England and America , the latter having come from all parts of the States . . Mr- Lawrence , the American Minister ; Mr . Brown , M . P . ; Colonel Aspinall ; Mr . Hankey , a governor of the Bank of England ; Judge Wood , of New York ; Colonel Fremont , and Colonel J . B . Lawrence , were present . There was also a large number of ladies present . After dinner , the health of the Queen was proposed and responded to most enthusiasticall y ^ with three times three and one cheer more . The healths of the President of the United States , and of Prince Albert , were also given .
By a remarkable coincidence , this day was the anniversary of the battle of Bunker ' s Hill . Mr . Lawrence alluded to this in his address , connecting it with the battle of Waterloo , the anniversary of which fell on the 18 th . He congratulated at the same time his own countrymen and the British nation , in that the triumph of American arms had given liberty to the New World , while Great Britain had conferred upon the Old World a peace of thirty-six years duration . The Anglo-Saxon race had kept the peace of the world . He hoped to see the good feeling between England and America grow stronger every day . Addresses were also delivered by the gentlemen above named , and the company and their host separated with mutual satisfaction .
Letters From Paris. [Fbom Our Own Corres...
LETTERS FROM PARIS . [ Fbom our own Correspondent . ] Letter XXVI .. Paris , Tuesday Evening , 22 nd June , 1852 . French politics are at a stand-still . Louis Bonaparte , hedged in on every side , seeks in vain to advance . It he proposes a new law , when he presents it to the Legislature of his own invention , he discovers that public opinion is against him , and is compelled to withdraw his measure . Public opinion has completely regained its power ; and although deprived of its ordinary channels of publicit y ^ it is not the less formidable .
The opposition to the present state of affairs strengthens simultaneously with the louder utterance of public opinion . Political parties have recovered from the confusion into which they had been thrown by the recent events , and men of all shades of opinion are now disputing every inch of ground with the Government . Correctly speaking there is no Bonapartist party ; the thing so called consists solely of the hangers on of the Elysee . We are witnessing the strangest sight possible •—the spectacle of a Government , which derives its origin from violence and treachery , and owes its continued existence to tho same means—a Government
having no hold on the country , and being secretly underminedbyall kinds of conspiracies , yet preserving the outward appearance of stability . But the uncertainty of the future is well understood at the Elysee . It feels that it must strike again or fall . But the blow is not to fall upon the Republicans , as on the 2 nd December , but will aim at the destruction of tho Orleanists and Legitimists . A thousand projects arc canvassed at the Elysee to effect this purpose . Pcrsigny sides with the sangnins , who advocate violent measures . Ho recommends the removal of four thousand Legitimists and Orlcanista
to Algiers . Some look upon tho confiscation of the pi'Operty of these parties as accomplishing tho desired result . Cnrlier , the cx-Ministcr of Police , Avould organize a Legitimist conspiracy with the aid of Bonapartist police . To give it an air of probability a sprinkling of magistrates and a few leading military men would bo put in . In fact , tho elements of nnotjier Vendeo would bo collected as a snnro for tho Count do Chambord ; and a movement at Brest would Becnro the Princo do Joinville . Thus organized , aill the unfortunate wretches drawn into tho net would bo tried by martial law , and mercilessly shot .
Tho final decision of the Council of State in tho matter of tho Orleans property was delivered on Saturday . Tho Government carried its point , with fioino modification of tho tonus , by tho casting voto of President Barochc . All Paris was Hhocked to lind General Allard , who had been loaded with kindness by tho House of Orleans , among those who voted with tho Government . But great was tho surprise of tho public to hear Hint M . Ch . Giraud , ono of Bonaparte ' s exministers , and M ' . Touranghi , another Nupoleonist , wero in tho ranks of tho opposition . Tho Council , an if to
qualify tho unfavourable" impression , an regards tho Government , produced . by their previous vote , rejected M . Merodo ' s amendment , proposing , to exempt tho salo of tho Orleans property from stamp duty . All tho amendments proposed by tho Budget Committee woro rojectod by tho Council of Btato . Tho proceedings of this body wero most scandalous . It wns ovidont they woro mero tools in tho hands of Bonaparte . Even Porsigny was usluuned of thoir docility . The Committeo has recorded its dissatisfaction in a roport to tho Legislative Body . This roport in virtually a protest agniiiBt tho Government , addressed to Franco . It
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 26, 1852, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26061852/page/7/
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